HDPE and PVC Sales Higher in First half of 2016

According to the American Chemistry Council (ACC), sales of PVC resin spiked in the first half of 2016, with sales of high density polyethylene (HDPE) also seeing strong results.

In its July report, the ACC reported that from January to June of 2016, U.S. and Canadian sales of PVC grew 7.4 percent, reaching more than 7.8 billion pounds in the six month period. Sales of PVC into export markets were up even higher, increasing almost 14 percent in the first half.

Why were PVC sales so high?

Over 60 percent of domestic PVC sales were to construction markets in the first half of 2016. The ACC report noted that domestic PVC markets benefited from a rebounding U.S. housing market, which itself is on pace to register over 1.2 million housing starts in 2016 (an increase of almost 10 percent from 2015). Within that market, PVC sales of rigid pipe and tubing were up more than 7 percent, while sales of PVC used in windows and doors jumped over 19 percent.

HDPE Sales Were Up, Too

The ACC noted that U.S. and Canadian HDPE sales increased 3.5 percent, to just about 9.7 billion pounds, with export sales growth of a whopping 21 percent. Among large domestic manufacturers, sales of HDPE into sheet were up over 4 percent, while injection molded pails of HDPE sold were up over 6 percent.